Seattle Mariners acquire Joaquin Benoit from San Diego Padres

The Seattle Mariners moved to improve their bullpen on Thursday, completing a trade with the San Diego Padres for veteran relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit. The M’s will ship minor league right-hander Enyel De Los Santos and infielder Nelson Ward to San Diego in the deal. Both played at the Class A level this year.

The 38-year-old Benoit has been around the block a few times, spending stints with the Rangers, Rays, Tigers and Padres throughout his 14-year big league career. However, he has remained one of the more consistently effective setup men in the game. Benoit posted a 2.34 ERA, 0.903 WHIP and 8.7 K/9 in 65.1 innings in 2015.

Over the last six seasons, he owns a 2.35 ERA, 0.939 WHIP and 10.0 K/9 while averaging 63 innings pitched per campaign.

The Mariners bullpen struggled this season, putting up a 4.15 ERA that placed it 25th in the league. Several of its members shuffled in and out of the setup and closer roles throughout the year. Veteran reliever Fernando Rodney started the campaign with the closer’s job after notching a league-high 48 saves in 2014. He blew six of his 22 save opportunities, though, and soon found himself designated for assignment.

Rookie Carson Smith enjoyed a strong season (2.31 ERA, 1.014 WHIP, 11.8 K/9), but he fared significantly better as a setup man than as the closer. Tom Wilhelmsen ended up filling the role through the end of the campaign.

Last week the Padres picked up Benoit’s $7.5 million option for 2016, extending his contract through next season. He was apparently a very popular name on the trade market, as MLB.com’s Corey Brock reports that 15 clubs inquired about him.

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Benoit has experience both setting up and closing (he saved 24 games for Detroit in 2013), so the M’s will have some flexibility in determining how to deploy him. He will provide a valuable veteran presence to their bullpen as they seek to rebound from this year’s disappointing finish.